HASAN: 'The Evidence Will Clearly Show That I Am The Shooter'

HASAN: 'The Evidence Will Clearly Show That I Am The Shooter'

FOX News: The Army psychiatrist behind the shooting rampage at Fort Hood nearly four years ago called himself a “mujahideen” in a short and unrepentant opening statement at his military trial, which will likely feature the bizarre spectacle of him questioning his own victims.Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who is serving as his own attorney, began his court martial with an opening statement less than two minutes long as the military trial began under heavy security at the Texas base. He faces the death penalty for the Nov. 5, 2009 rampage, in which 13 people were killed and where witnesses said Hasan yelled “Alahu Akhbar!” as he sprayed gunfire at unarmed fellow soldiers.

Hasan said “the evidence will clearly show that I am the shooter. The dead bodies will show that war is an ugly thing.”It was not clear how the 42-year-old Hasan plans to fashion his stance into a defense. Hasan had wanted to argue that he shot U.S. troops to protect Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, but the judge forbade the American-born Muslim and former Army psychiatrist from using that defense.Earlier, prosecutor Col. Steve Henricks said Hasan hoped to “kill as many soldiers as he could.”Henricks told the military jury Hasan picked the date of the attack for a specific reason, though he did not immediately reveal details.Three witnesses took the stand after opening arguments, including the manager of the store Guns Galore, where Hasan had purchased pistol he used in the attacks.David Cheadle testified that Hasan came into the store multiple times and that he purchased the Glock 27 model 5.7 handgun on August 1st, 2009, along with a sight laser and a few boxes of ammo.

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